Browne is wooed for Whitehall

Former chief executive of BP Lord Browne is sounded out about a "super-director" post with the Lib-Con coalition

Lord Browne, the former chief executive of BP, at his home in London (Chris Harris)
The Lib-Con coalition has approached Lord Browne, the former chief executive
of BP, to take a senior role in government to police the efficiency of
Whitehall.

Browne has been sounded out about the “super-director” post that will
co-ordinate the work of a group of businessmen recruited to sit on
departmental boards.

He would report direct to David Cameron. The Sunday Times first revealed the
Conservative plans to recruit senior business people last month. The other
leading candidate for the top role is Sir Chris Gent, the chairman of
Vodafone.

Francis Maude, the senior Tory MP who was last week appointed minister for the
Cabinet Office, has been co-ordinating the search.

Conservative officials and City headhunters began drawing up lists of
potential directors last year, and made discreet approaches. Among those
tapped up were Richard Baker, former chief executive of Alliance Boots and
now chairman of Virgin Active; Sir Roy Gardner,